Preventive and therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus paracasei ZFM54 on Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis by ameliorating inflammation and restoring gastric microbiota in mice model

Lactobacillus paracasei ZFM54 alters the metabolomic profiles of yogurt and the co-fermented yogurt improves the gut microecology of human adults

Gut microbiota imbalance could lead to various diseases, making it important to optimize the structure of the gut flora in adults. Lactobacillus paracasei ZFM54 is a bacteriocin- and folic acid-producing Lactobacillus strain. Herein, L. paracasei ZFM54 was used as the potentially probiotic bacterium to ferment milk together with a yogurt starter. We optimized the fermentation conditions, and the obtained yogurts were then subjected to volatile and nonvolatile metabolome analysis, showing that L. paracasei ZFM54 can not only improve the acidity, water holding capacity and live lactic acid bacteria counts, but also improve many volatile acid contents and increase some beneficial nonvolatile metabolites, such as N-ethyl glycine and l-lysine, endowing the yogurt with more flavor and better function. The regulatory effects of the co-fermented yogurt on the intestinal microecology of volunteers were investigated by 16S rRNA sequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analysis after consuming the yogurt for a 2-wk period, showing a better effect to increase the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Ruminococcus and Alistipes, decrease harmful bacteria (Escherichia-Shigella and Enterobacter), and enhance the production of SCFA (acetate, propionate, and butyric acid) compared with the control yogurt. We found that L. paracasei ZFM54 can significantly improve the health benefits of yogurt, laying the foundation for its commercial application in improving gut microbiota.

Indole-3-Lactic Acid Derived from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Inhibits Helicobacter pylori Infection via Destruction of Bacteria Cells, Protection of Gastric Mucosa Epithelial Cells, and Alleviation of Inflammation

Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) has exhibited antimicrobial properties. However, its role in inhibiting Helicobacter pylori infection remains elusive. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of ILA produced by Lacticaseibacillus paracasei on H. pylori, which was further confirmed by cell and animal experiments. 5 mg/mL ILA was sufficient to directly inhibit the growth of H. pylori in vitro, with a urease inhibitory activity reaching 60.94 ± 1.03%, and the cell morphology and structure were destroyed. ILA inhibited 56.5% adhesion of H. pylori to GES-1 and significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, ILA suppresses H. pylori colonization by approximately 38% to 63%, reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in H. pylori-infected mice, and enhanced the enrichment and variety of gut microbiota, notably fostering the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. The results support that ILA derived from Lactobacillus can be applicated as a novel prebiotic in anti-H. pylori functional foods.

Exopolysaccharide from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei alleviates gastritis in Helicobacter pylori-infected mice by regulating gastric microbiota

Introduction

Many probiotics have the ability to produce extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). EPS derived from these probiotics has been confirmed to regulate the host intestinal microecological balance and alleviate the symptoms of diseases caused by gastrointestinal microecological imbalance.

Results

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain with good exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing ability, namely, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei ZFM54 (L. paracasei ZFM54) was screened. The fermentation conditions of L. paracasei ZFM54 for EPS production were optimized. The EPS54 was characterized by chemical component and monosaccharide composition determination, UV, FT-IR and NMR spectra analysis. Cango red, SEM, AFM and XRD analysis were conducted to characterize the structure of EPS54. The EPS54 effectively reduced the colonization of Helicobacter pylori to AGS cells and recovered the cell morphology. EPS54 could also effectively alleviate the gastritis in the H. pylori-infected mice by down-regulating the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α and up-regulating the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in gastric cells. EPS54 was also found to be able to positively regulate the structure of gastric microbiota.

Conclusion

The EPS 54 from L. paracasei ZFM54 can alleviate gastritis in H. pylori-infected mice by modulating the gastric microbiota.

Simultaneous application of oral and intravaginal probiotics for Helicobacter pylori and its antibiotic-therapy-induced vaginal dysbacteriosis

Helicobacter pylori is a prevalent bacterial pathogen globally, implicated in various gastrointestinal disorders. Current recommended antibiotic therapies for H. pylori infection have been proven to be therapeutically insufficient, with low eradication rates and high recurrence rates. Emerging evidence suggests that antibiotic therapy for H. pylori can lead to gastrointestinal and subsequent vaginal dysbiosis, posing challenges for conventional antibiotic approaches. Thus, this article proposes a novel probiotic therapy involving simultaneous oral and intra-vaginal probiotic administration alongside antibiotics for H. pylori treatment, aiming to enhance eradication rates and mitigate dysbiosis. We begin by providing an overview of gastrointestinal and vaginal microbiota and their interconnectedness through the vagina-gut axis. We then review the efficacy of current antibiotic regimens for H. pylori and discuss how antibiotic treatment impacts the vaginal microenvironment. To explore the feasibility of this approach, we evaluate the effectiveness of oral and intra-vaginal probiotics in restoring normal microbiota in the gastrointestinal and vaginal tracts, respectively. Additionally, we analyze the direct mechanisms by which oral and intra-vaginal probiotics act on their respective tracts and discuss potential cross-tract mechanisms. Considering the potential synergistic therapeutic effects of probiotics in both the gastrointestinal and vaginal tracts, dual-channel probiotic therapy holds promise as a more effective approach for H. pylori eradication and dysbiosis mitigation, presenting a novel concept in the collaborative treatment of gastrointestinal and genital disorders.

Golden bifid treatment regulates gut microbiota and serum metabolites to improve myocardial dysfunction in cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis mice

Myocardial damage is a major consequence and a significant contributor to death in cases of sepsis, a severe infection characterized by a distinct inflammatory response and a potential threat to the patient's life. Recently, the effects of intestinal microbiota and serum metabolites on sepsis have garnered increasing attention. Herein, the effects of golden bifid treatment upon cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in mice as a model for myocardial dysfunction were explored. Our results demonstrated that golden bifid treatment partially improved myocardial dysfunction and apoptosis, cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress, and intestinal mucosal permeability and barrier dysfunction in CLP-induced sepsis mice. The intestinal microbiota diversity and abundance were also altered within sepsis mice and improved by golden bifid treatment. Mucispirillum schaedleri, Acinetobacter baumannii and Lactobacullus intestinalis were significantly correlated with heart damage markers, inflammatory factors, or oxidative stress indicators. Serum differential metabolite levels were also significantly correlated with these parameters. Altogether, golden bifid treatment might be an underlying approach for treating sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction and highlight the underlying effect of intestinal microbiota and serum metabolites on the pathogenesis and treatment of sepsis-triggered myocardial dysfunction.

Lactobacillus plantarum attenuates glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis by altering the composition of rat gut microbiota and serum metabolic profile

Introduction

Osteoporosis, one of the most common non-communicable human diseases worldwide, is one of the most prevalent disease of the adult skeleton. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis(GIOP) is the foremost form of secondary osteoporosis, extensively researched due to its prevalence.Probiotics constitute a primary bioactive component within numerous foods, offering promise as a potential biological intervention for preventing and treating osteoporosis. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum on bone health and its underlying mechanisms in a rat model of glucocorticoid dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis, using the osteoporosis treatment drug alendronate as a reference.

Methods

We examined the bone microstructure (Micro-CT and HE staining) and analyzed the gut microbiome and serum metabolome in rats.

Results and discussion

The results revealed that L. plantarum treatment significantly restored parameters of bone microstructure, with elevated bone density, increased number and thickness of trabeculae, and decreased Tb.Sp. Gut microbiota sequencing results showed that probiotic treatment increased gut microbial diversity and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidota decreased. Beneficial bacteria abundance was significantly increased (Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcus, UCG_005, Romboutsia, and Christensenellaceae_R_7_group), and harmful bacteria abundance was significantly decreased (Desulfovibrionaceae). According to the results of serum metabolomics, significant changes in serum metabolites occurred in different groups. These differential metabolites were predominantly enriched within the pathways of Pentose and Glucuronate Interconversions, as well as Propanoate Metabolism. Furthermore, treatment of L. plantarum significantly increased serum levels of Pyrazine and gamma-Glutamylcysteine, which were associated with inhibition of osteoclast formation and promoting osteoblast formation. Lactobacillus plantarum can protect rats from DEX-induced GIOP by mediating the "gut microbial-bone axis" promoting the production of beneficial bacteria and metabolites. Therefore L. plantarum is a potential candidate for the treatment of GIOP.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZJ316 Reduces Helicobacter pylori Adhesion and Inflammation by Inhibiting the Expression of Adhesin and Urease Genes

SCOPE

The present study aims to investigate the anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZJ316 (L. plantarum ZJ316) both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study finds that L. plantarum ZJ316 effectively suppresses H. pylori adhesion in inhibition (Pre-ZJ316), competition (Co-ZJ316), and displacement (Post-ZJ316) assays, and Pre-ZJ316 displaying the most potent inhibitory effect with an impressive inhibition ratio of 70.14%. Upon anti-adhesion, L. plantarum ZJ316 significantly downregulates the expression of H. pylori virulence genes, including ureA, ureB, flaA, and sabA, with inhibition ratios of 46.83%, 24.02%, 21.42%, and 62.38% at 2 h, respectively. In addition, L. plantarum ZJ316 is observed to reduce the level of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and improve cell viability in infected AGS cells. Furthermore, in vivo studies show that supplementation with L. plantarum ZJ316 effectively hinders H. pylori colonization and significantly suppresses the infiltration of immune cells and IL-8 production with H. pylori infection, protecting host from inflammatory damage.

CONCLUSION

L. plantarum ZJ316 exhibits excellent adhesion inhibition on H. pylori, and may be used as a probiotic candidate in the prevention or adjuvant therapy of gastric disease caused by H. pylori.

Beneficial effect of vinegar consumption associated with regulating gut microbiome and metabolome

Vinegar is used as fermented condiment and functional food worldwide. Vinegar contains many nutrients and bioactive components, which exhibits health benefits. In this study, the potential effects of Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV) on gut microbiome and metabolome were explored in normal mice. The levels of inflammatory factors were significantly decreased in SAV-treated mice. Immunoglobulin, NK cells and CD20 expression were significantly increased after SAV administration. In addition, SAV intake altered gut microbiota structure by up-regulating Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, Hungatella and Alistipes, and down-regulating Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Oscillibacter. The differential metabolites were mainly included amino acids, carbohydrates and bile acids. Furthermore, after SAV intake, Verrucomicrobia, and Akkermansia closely impacted the related gut metabolites. These alterations of gut microbiota-related metabolism further modulated some immunoregulatory and inflammatory factors, and confer potential health benefits. Our results imply that vinegar consumption has beneficial effects on regulating gut microbiome and metabolome.